David Austin, the chief executive of the British Board of Classification (BBFC), is to step down as of next year, after 10 years in the role.
Austin will end his executive responsibilities in July 2027 but will continue to support the BBFC as a member of its board. As part of his board role, he will continue to be one of the BBFC’s four statutory classifiers.
He joined the BBFC in 2003 as an examiner, now known as a compliance officer, following a career in the diplomatic service. He became assistant director, policy and public affairs at the BBFC in 2011, before taking up the chief executive role in March 2016.
Under his leadership, the BBFC expanded beyond traditional cinema classification into self-rating partnerships with major streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video and HBO Max. He also oversaw the organisation’s engagement with emerging technology, including the use of artificial intelligence to support classification work, culminating in a first-of-its-kind agreement with HBO Max to develop and deploy a bespoke AI tool to support BBFC compliance officers in the classification of the streaming service’s entire content library.
The BBFC board will begin a recruitment process for a new chief executive immediately.
“What began as a curious fascination with film and classification, born out of my love of horror, has grown into a deep love for the BBFC,” said Austin.
“There is no other organisation quite like it, and I could not have imagined dedicating so much of my career to anything else… I know the BBFC is in a strong position for the future. It is a dynamic and innovative organisation with a clear purpose, talented people and a strong foundation on which to build. As the content landscape continues to evolve, there remains important work to do, and I am confident the BBFC will continue to play a vital role in supporting UK audiences.
“While the credits may be rolling on my time as chief executive, this is far from my final scene at the BBFC.”
“His leadership, vision and commitment have helped ensure the BBFC remains one of the most trusted and respected classification bodies in the world,” added Natasha Kaplinsky, president of the BBFC.
No comments yet